Monday, March 22, 2010

Another kind of Friesian cross -- think it'll catch on?

This ad was in one of the major horse publication -- Dressage Today, I think? The picture is stunning, and I love mules, but...

What job do these mules do? Driving? I would love to see one in action. If you're going to do an unusual cross like Friesian/donkey, I think you ought to say why it's a good idea and not just a "novelty cross." I couldn't find this breeder's Web page -- frustrating. Breeder(s), tell us more!


15 comments:

  1. well, it's the nicest mule I've ever seen.

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  2. I think you secretly rather covet a mule....!!!

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  3. We have a member on the Ansur saddle yahoo board with a warmblood cross mule. She is going to train her for dressage.

    I'd think they could excel in most any sport. But what about endurance???

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  4. I would love a warmblood cross mule, so long as he is tall, has decent gaits, and has a bit more muscle on the top of the neck than one normally sees in a mule.

    I can see endurance if the cross had the horse's compliant personality. I am afraid the typical mule might figure out pretty quickly who is doing most of the work...

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  5. I've seen dressage mules before. I would love mule, being a mulish myself. :)

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  6. Beautiful trot, but...no, unless you want a sport mule!

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  7. why would you want a warmblood x DONKEY when you could have a musled elegant sleek warmblood??!!

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  8. I think this one is short lived in desirability. I've seen that Fresians don't have great stamina and then combine it with the "mule" stubbornness and that may be a lethal combo. I know that mules are supposed to be trained differently but.... I'm just sayin'

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  9. I grew up with mules and quite frankly that mule is pretty awesome! A good mule is worth his/her weight in gold. As for the Endurance mules, there are already a few good ones competing.

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  10. If the Fresian/mule has a decent work ethic, the cross might make an interesting therapy horse, uh, mule.

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  11. Since they are advertising a matched pair, I assume they are for driving, since I can't think of another sport where they would need to be matched. My mom drives a Friesian and she loves it! Combine the Friesian's good traits with the sense of a mule (my mom's Friesian is lovely but rather nitwitted) and I think you might have something.

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  12. Wow, beautiful mule, my dad would love it! I'll bet it would be a great dressage mule. ;)

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  13. I can definitely see it as a great driving animal. I did not know Friesians lacked stamina, but a mule has plenty so that's a bonus. I recall reading that a Catalonian mule (Andalusian horse crossed with a catalonian donkey) was highly prized for both riding & driving.

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  14. Huh. Can't say I really get this? Like you said, maybe a reason for WHY you'd want one of these might help...

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  15. I, Fenway Bartholomule, wholeheartedly support the intentional crossing of quality mares with quality jacks. I object, however, to the chant of "rare! rare! rare!" as an argument for a breeding program. There is nothing about a Friesian that excites me except their prowess as carriage horses, and I wouldn't recommend one to my FarmWife as a dressage mount. My personal favorite Other Mule, excepting my darling girlfriend Katie Scarlett, is the honorable John Henry, a percheron cross. Google him!

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Hi Guys, Your comments are valued and appreciated -- until recently I never rejected a post. Please note that I reserve the right to reject an anonymous post.